The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-09-30
LETTER FROM OMAHA,

one week IN September, into which
was crowded the annual fair, reunion
and encampment of veterans of G. A.
R., with ten companies U. S. infantry
and one battery of artillery, and the
entertainment of the visiting veteran
New York firemen, was week Of great
events to Omaha. The city was dressed
in gala-day attire--fags, streamers,
banners, bunting and Japanese lanterns
prevailed On all the principal streets and
on hundreds of private residences. A
triumphal arch of magnificent proper
tons, erected at the intersection of 10th
and Farnham streets, consisting of four
minor arches, springing up from the
four street corners and uniting in the
center forty feet above the ground, and
surmounted by cannon and appropriate
figures, commanded the admiration of
both citizens and strangers. @1
The fair grounds were located three
miles from the city, and the camp
grounds one mile farther. Two rail
road companies ran trains of dozen
cars each every hour throughout the
day. In addition to these were street
cars and wheel vehicles of every descrip-
ton innumerable, and conveyances of
all kinds were crowded to OVERLOOKING.
The fair was a pronounced success, con-
tanning the usual variety of exhibits
found on such occasions. One promi-
nent feature was the customary races,
which were held each afternoon. An
other prominent feature, which attract
ed no small attention throughout the
day, was mammoth saloon. 1t was
arranged in form of an oblong square,
and eighteen tapsters were kept at hard
work to dispense the foaming beverage
to the thirsty crowd, while cashier at
each end Of the square, perched upon
three-legged stool, wearing cooked hats
"a cigar projecting from the northwest
corner of the mouth, tipped at an angle
of IS degrees-raked in the nickels.. It
was reported that on one day, before S
o'clock P. NJ, they had raked in s., 300,
and the crowd was still thirsty.
Another prominent feature each after.
noon, outside the Enclosure, was a de-
tachment of the Salvation Army, with
selected texts printed on the sides of
their large wagon and drawn by horses
trimmed with flags and notices. A
variety of opinions prevailed among the
crowd upon the propriety of attempting
to preach on such an occasion; but,
with few exceptions, all admitted their
perfect right, as long as no disturbance
was created. They were respectfully
listened to, mostly by strangers-per-
haps more from curiosity than from
real interest. One rowdy-looking fellow,
wearing a SLOUGH hat and seedy coat,
was heard to say that he would like to
/" collect fellows enough to clean them
out" when he was promptly informed
by gray-haired old veteran that the
first attempt to lay violent hands upon
them would be the signal to clean him
out'-that he 1.-THE veteran) had fought
to maintain the right of free speech,
and howmuchsoever they might differ
from him in sentiment, or the propriety
of the occasion, they had rights which,
if necessary, he would fight again to
maintain, and the crowd cheered and
said Amen" while the rowdy sneaked
out of sight.
Every evening at eight o'clock this
detachment parades the streets of the
city. A large percentage of the rank
and file consists of children in their
early teens, and the women of more
mature years are more renowned for old |
poke bonnets than for beauty;
but that they are sincere few attempt to
deny. Their marching music is attractive.
One of the finest cornet players in the
city is leader among them, and their
splendid drum corps is not easily ex-
celled, while the women with the tam
BOURNE would do credit to band Of |
A brass band marching |
through the streets is expected to be |
danked by the usual number of small |
boys, but it is not unusual to see. the
sidewalks thronged by boys of a larger
growth, who haze business in the same
direction of the quick-step music, but
would be slow to acknowledge the at
traction.
A company of over one hundred New
York veteran fremen, on a junketing
our to the Pacific coast, were the guests
If the fire department two days, and
we're handsomely entertained. A grand
procession Of firemen and other depart +
nents was inaugurated, and the city
lid itself honor.
A novel procession one evening was
y the bicycle clubs. Over one hundred
BICYCLES were in line, decorated with
ed, white and blue, and each bearing
NO to half a dozen Chinese lanterns.
The tented field, however. was the
reat attraction, and reminded old ;
eterans of the times which tested their
ourage and endurance. Fifteen hum